"Christmas sits like a black hole on the calendar, and the other holidays implied by "happy holidays"—Hanukkah, Kwanza…"

": You were disparaging my lover. : On the contrary, I was reminiscing about my wife. : It comes to the same thing. : …"

": I hear she's a scrubbed blonde with all the sex appeal of chilled Dettol. : (with dignity) There are those who beli…"

": You can take it from me that Tēa's an engaging little trollop, and she suits me mightily. Mind you, she takes a bit…"

": So she's used to luxury. Whose fault is that? : It's not a fault if you can afford it. But can you?"

": You must be joking. : You would know it if I were."

": Supposing someone saw you climbing in? : Who? You're not overlooked. : Who knows? A dallying couple. A passing shee…"

": You have to be serious if you want to be in love. : You have to be serious about crime if you want to afford to be …"

": You seem to regard marriage as a game, sir. : Not marriage, Inspector. Sex. Sex is the game with marriage the penalty."

": Now, the shortest way to a man's heart is humiliation. You soon find out what he's made of."